Online Veterinary Education Library

Our team of specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our clients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your pet's health. Please use our educational library to learn more about health problems and treatments available for your pet. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.

Reptiles and amphibians together are known as herptiles. These animals are grouped together because they are ectothermic, which means that they cannot regulate their body temperature internally, but must use their environments to control temperature. Common temperature-regulating activities include basking in the sun, burrowing or hibernating. The difference between reptiles and amphibians relates to the way they breath. Reptiles generally have only one lung. Amphibians may have lungs, but they also breath through their skin. Both reptiles and amphibians live on land (terrestrial), in the water (aquatic) or both (semi-aquatic).

There is a wide range of animals that fall into the category of reptiles that come from every land area around the world. The most recognized of these are:

Amphibians

Frogs and Toads

Caecilians

Urodeles

Salamanders

Newts

Chelonians

Turtles

Tortoises

Terrapins

Crocodilians

Alligators

Caiman

Crocodiles

Gavial

Invertebrates

Arachnids

Scorpions

Spiders

Tarantulas

Insects

Centipedes

Millipedes

Earthworms

Lizards

Chameleons

Geckos

Iguanas

Lizards

Agamas

Anoles

Monitors

Skinks

Snakes

Nonvenomous

Black Snakes

Boa Constrictors

Garter Snakes

King Snakes

Milk Snakes

Pythons

Venomous

Rattlesnakes

Not all reptiles are allowed to be kept as pets, particularly those that are dangerous to humans, such as most venomous snakes and crocodilians.